Stuff the turkey, not yourself Published Nov. 17, 2014 By Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - -- Editor's note: This is part three of a three-part series on Thanksgiving at Barksdale. The Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell Fitness Center hosted the Turkey Trot 5K fun run, Nov. 14, 2014 here. The 3.2 mile run served as reminder for Airmen to keep health and fitness in mind while enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving meal. "The Turkey Trot is our Thanksgiving-themed 5K and to stay in the spirit of the holiday, the raffle prizes were turkeys," said Staff Sgt. David Goloven, 2nd Force Support Squadron fitness specialist. With food often being the center of celebration during the winter holidays, Airmen could pack on extra calories. "Weight gain is impacted by factors like overabundance of rich foods and being less active," said Ashley Rachal, Health Promotion dietician. "Thanksgiving is more of a social holiday where we visit with families and take the focus off of our health." Airmen can stay fit by making conscious decisions at the dinner table to prevent those unwanted pounds. "Choose smaller portions of the richer foods; try to pick one dessert you can't live without, have a small piece and enjoy it," said Rachal. "Also, you can ward off excess weight gain by going for a walk after the Thanksgiving dinner instead of taking a nap." "It's normal to overeat during the holidays, but try to stick to your regular routine as much as possible," she continued. "This way you can get back on track sooner rather than later." As Thanksgiving draws near, Goloven advises Airmen to remember one word, moderation. "Americans typically gain five to ten pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas," he said. "With PT being the biggest factor in shaping today's Air Force, moderation is key." By keeping fitness a priority, Airmen can prevent weight gain while enjoying a warm slice of homemade pumpkin pie.